The Huangs had expended considerable effort to train Xiu Hu to attack people with precision.
She had fully expected that after she spoke, Wang Qingyao would be thrown into a panic, overwhelmed with shame and indignation.
But neither happened.
Wang Qingyao merely watched her, a clear mockery playing on her lips and in the corners of her eyes.
Xiao Yun adopted the same posture.
Looking at the engaged couple at this moment, one realized they were becoming more and more alike. Was this the legendary "couple's resemblance"?
Even Fang Yuan stared at her with wide eyes, a deep sense of… disappointment and sadness reflected in them.
In an instant, the Huangs felt a tremor of fear. Was something amiss?
Madam Bai noticed at this point that the Huangs were deliberately targeting Wang Qingyao! Her eyes gleamed, and she was about to join in the attack, but Wang Qinglin tugged at her sleeve, shaking her head subtly. Madam Bai had no choice but to desist.
The other young ladies whispered to their mothers, and some sharp-witted ones immediately understood.
Glints of obscure, uncertain looks were cast towards the Huangs.
Cold sweat broke out on the Huangs' forehead. She subconsciously looked at Liu Xiang.
Liu Xiang trembled as she approached and whispered, "Madam, Xiu Hu attacked… it attacked… Prince Ding'an!"
What?!
The Huangs' face turned pale, their expression completely frozen!
She had assumed Wang Qingyao's hand was injured, and Xiu Hu would surely attack her!
How could it be Prince Ding'an?
She looked at Wang Qingyao and suddenly realized the bracelet was no longer on her wrist.
Her pupils constricted sharply.
Xiao Yun spoke at this moment, "What does the 世子夫人 mean? Is she implying that this prince carries ill fortune and is an inauspicious person?"
He even stopped calling her "Auntie."
The Huangs' face was ashen, and they swayed precariously.
"I didn't mean that…"
Xiao Yun interrupted her, "This prince is cursed, so it's not wrong to say I carry ill fortune, but where does this inauspiciousness stem from?"
The Huangs forced a smile, "The elders also heard it from others; it's not to be taken seriously."
Xiao Yun gave a soft "Ah," and said, "So it's not to be taken seriously!"
He took Wang Qingyao's hand and walked past the Huangs, not looking at her again.
Although Fang Yuan was naive, Wang Qingyao had long since cautioned her. At this moment, seeing everything, she understood completely.
When Xiu Hu attacked someone, and the Huangs rushed over upon hearing the news, wouldn't they normally assume the attack was directed at everyone? Even if they saw most people had avoided it, there were still her and Xiao Yun. But the Huangs, without even asking, immediately assumed Xiu Hu had attacked Wang Qingyao and deliberately uttered those heart-piercing words!
How could she be so sure Xiu Hu attacked Wang Qingyao?
Fang Yuan recalled Liu Xiang's series of actions. Something felt off, though she couldn't pinpoint what. It seemed they had planned for Xiu Hu to attack Wang Qingyao, but due to some unforeseen mishap, Xiu Hu attacked Xiao Yun.
Fang Yuan's mind was clear, and she analyzed the situation step by step.
The Huangs had met Wang Qingyao for the first time. Why would they target her?
Fang Yuan immediately thought of Huang Xuanming's matter. The Huangs had advised her to forgive Huang Xuanming, but Wang Qingyao had advised her to leave Huang Xuanming. Was the Huangs resentful of Wang Qingyao because of this?
The more Fang Yuan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Thus, the brilliant image the Huangs had cultivated in Fang Yuan's heart for nearly twenty years collapsed with a resounding crash.
"Yuan'er," the Huangs said with an awkward smile, reaching out to pull her, "Are you hurt?"
Fang Yuan instinctively dodged the outstretched hand and said stiffly, "I'm fine."
Without waiting for the Huangs to say anything more, she quickly ran out of the garden.
In the side hall, after the doctor cleaned Wang Qingyao's wound and repeatedly assured her that everything would be fine, Wang Qingyao let him leave. Xiao Yun also had a few scratches on his leg, but they hadn't broken the skin through his trousers, so Xiao Yun couldn't be bothered to treat them. However, he did take out the bracelet for the doctor to examine, and the doctor also said it was non-toxic.
After seeing off the doctor, the two returned to the flower hall, and Madam Zuo immediately stepped forward with concern, asking, "What did the doctor say?"
Wang Qingyao replied, "It's nothing, just a minor injury."
Madam Zuo breathed a sigh of relief and then asked for details about what had happened.
Wang Qingyao recounted the events, omitting the words the Huangs had spoken.
Madam Zuo asked curiously, "For no reason, why would the cat attack someone? Did it contract some sort of rabies?"
Xiao Yun then sidled up to the Old Dowager and complained playfully, "Grandmother, just now the 世子夫人 said that her cat is the most intelligent and only attacks people who carry ill fortune and are inauspicious. She was indirectly scolding me! I don't know what I did to offend her for her to say such things about me?"
The Huangs were greatly embarrassed, having not expected Xiao Yun to be so cunning. They quickly offered an awkward smile and said, "I didn't mean that…"
"Then what did Madam mean?" Xiao Yun turned and asked the Huangs expressionlessly.
The Huangs wore a look of mortification and explained, "...I just heard the elders say that, and I was merely repeating it for everyone to hear. I had no other intentions..."
The Old Dowager frowned and cast a suspicious glance at the Huangs. The Huangs were known for their social grace, praised by everyone in their circle. Even if they had truly heard such a thing from elders, they shouldn't have brought it up at such an inopportune moment.
Was there some misunderstanding here?
Xiao Yun then let out a cold laugh and said to the Old Dowager, "The 世子夫人 originally thought that beast attacked the Second Miss Wang..." He mimicked the Huangs' tone, "Ah, Second Miss Wang, I have no intention of slandering you... That's what the 世子夫人 said."
This was practically a public humiliation for the Huangs.
Wang Qingyao looked at the Huangs with sympathy. The latter's face was flushed red, so embarrassed they could have dug a villa out of the ground.
This explained everything. The Old Dowager's eyes darkened: "Someone, go fetch the 世子."
All unnecessary personnel were asked to leave the flower hall by the Old Dowager. Madam Zuo, as a relative by marriage, and Old Madam Wang, as Wang Qingyao's paternal grandmother, remained. In addition, there were Wang Qingyao, Xiao Yun, Xiao Mo, and the Huangs.
Soon, the 世子, Fang Xiuqi, arrived, followed by Fang Zheng. Upon seeing the setup in the room, they knew something had happened.
"A'yun, you tell her," the Old Dowager instructed.
Xiao Yun recounted the events, without any embellishment, causing cold sweat to break out on the Huangs' forehead. They looked pleadingly at Fang Xiuqi.
Fang Xiuqi was a bit bewildered. Was this such a trivial matter?
The Old Dowager looked at Fang Xiuqi with a stern face: "世子, how do you think this matter should be handled?"
"Ah..." Fang Xiuqi felt the Old Dowager was making a mountain out of a molehill. Wang Qingyao hadn't even married into the Prince Ding'an's mansion yet, and even if she did, the Huangs would still be her aunt. Was it worth being so relentless over such a small matter?
However, since the Old Dowager had spoken…
"Apologize to the Second Miss Wang," Fang Xiuqi said gently to the Huangs.
The Huangs breathed a sigh of relief and walked up to Wang Qingyao, saying with a wronged yet "sincere" tone, "Second Miss Wang, I'm sorry. My words were inappropriate. Please don't take it to heart."
Wang Qingyao raised her eyelids and glanced at her, saying nothing.
Fang Xiuqi became a little annoyed. This Second Miss Wang was too unappreciative!